Iryna Zhychar: We revealed problem zones of cancer patients’ rehabilitation;let’s make life brighter

The First International scientific and practical conference “The quality of life of cancer patients: systematic approach to organizing assistance after active treatment” closed in Minsk.

Let us recall that the first day of the conference brought out priority issues. As some participants of the conference believe, the solution of these issues directly affects the progress of systems approach in rehabilitation of cancer patients.

Second day centered on the detailed group work over the mot problematic issues of rehabilitation process. Closing the conference, Iryna Zhychar, the head of the social and educational establishment “Center for support of cancer patients “In name of life” (Russian “Vo imya zhizni”), designated the work of the organization for the near future “We entered a new zone of turbulence”.

By request of the “EuroBelarus” Information Service Iryna Zhychar sums up the results of the representational event.

- Upon the end of these two days we decided on the problem zones that are interesting and actual both for us, cancer patients, as well as for doctors. As it turns out, the reason for misunderstanding is not non-desire of doctors to meet our wishes; but some unregulated and unreasoned things that are not always obvious in their problematics. We have brought out these points.

Besides, according to Iryna Zhychar, there are problems with communication and problems of finding a common language that would be clear to patients.

- Doctors say: “Well, we inform patients and tell them everything”. Whereas the patients claim: “We don’t hear that!” And this is the problem with awareness: doctors tell, but no one hears them. And our task is to become a retransmitting station for the patients to hear what doctors say. Thus, we need to find the forms where doctors’ speech and patients’ understanding unite at some point. The figures show that 15% of patients might have a problem but they don’t come to continue the checkup, whereas later doctors diagnose them with a far-gone cancer. Why do they do it? It is a problem of awareness, too. The problem of non-hearing; breakup of communication. And one of the goals of organization will be to eradicate this gap.

The participants of the conference are convinced that there should be a system where rehabilitators will take a well-deserved place.

- With the complete set of what should accompany rehabilitation, since in Belarus rehabilitation starts immediately after operation. We want to investigate the situation in detail, but we can already say that there are not enough rehabilitators. And it happens so that doctors take up the function of rehabilitators and work for several “fronts” at a time. We see that doctors are also interested in maximum efficiency of the rehabilitation process. If we elaborate suggestions for the Ministry of Health and start a discussion to realize these suggestions – the situation will change drastically.

Iryna Zhychar also marks the need of establishing a service of judicial consultation for cancer patients.

- A person might understand his or her problem incorrectly and start resolving it with this wrong understanding. Besides, we certainly need to take into account that apart from difficult medical treatment, a man with such disease is in a very hard oppressed psychological state. And that often becomes an intolerable burden for our patients. So we need to think of how we can provide legal aid on issues of disability, temporary disability, work reintegration, since it is a also a big problem that requires judicial intervention.

Iryna Zhychar also believes that the problem of late rehabilitation should be solved as well.

- Medical treatment has far-away consequences; human organism is restoring for a very long time. Today we indicated the demand for general practitioner with knowledge of cancer that would be able to consult us. Let it be a non-free service; but we will know that we can resort to it and get detailed consultations with account for our peculiarity. It is important.

As to the long-term perspective, Iryna Zhychar notes that the voice of the cured patients is the best proof of success and the best argument in fight against cancer.

- In order to be cured and grateful we want to get a full complete rehabilitation, not only treatment in a hospital. If it happens, there will be more cured and more grateful people. If we help cancer patients to cope with all the problems listed above they will have more time to say the society – I am alive, I enjoy life, do the same, love yourselves, take part in screening programs, don’t let cancer enter your lives!

The most popular source of information is still word-of-mouth enhanced with today’s technical opportunities. And if every patient will be openly, calmly, and publicly talk about the problems the society will get used to that being a norm. All the more that whether the society wants it or not, oncology became the challenge of the 21^st century: we have to pay for everything, for our longevity, for the good way of life, for scientific and technical progress, for achievements of medicine. Take care of yourself and value yourself.

I am glad and encouraged with the fact that our center unites those who want to give more than they want to take. And the more such people we have, the brighter will be the lives of people on this planet.